Manually operable printer-scanner

ABSTRACT

A portable printer-scanner device ( 10 ) includes a print-head arrangement and a scanner head. A pre-printed image ( 22 ) can be scanned by passing the device over it. The printer-scanner is movable by a user relative to a page ( 20 ) to print an image ( 22 ) stored during the scanning operation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Application is a national phase (371) of PCT/AU03/00150, filed onFeb. 12, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The following invention relates to improvements in printer and copiertechnology, more particularly to drop-on-demand printers and even moreparticularly to a combined printer-scanner having a print-widthdrop-on-demand fixed printhead system which can be swiped across asurface by a user to effect both scanning and printing operations.

BACKGROUND

Known prior art printers typically incorporate a supply of print mediaand employ a print media feed mechanism to transport the print mediapast the printhead(s) to effect printing onto the print media. It isessential during a printing operation to synchronise the speed of theprint media with the printing rate of the printhead(s) to ensure afaithful reproduction of the image being printed. Heretofore, thesynchronisation of the print media with the printhead(s) has beenrelatively simple to accomplish because the print media feed mechanism,including the supply of print media, forms an integral part of theprinter or copier. The speed of the print media is therefore known andfixed, as is the speed at which the printhead(s) and print controlleroperate, with synchronisation between these features being accomplishedusing simple mechanical features such as gears, stepper motors and thelike.

Such features however, in particular the need to have a supply of printmedia accommodated within the printers, have made these printers largerand heavier than they otherwise need be. Even in more compact printersand copiers employing a monolithic page-width drop-on-demand printheadarrangement, where the printhead is fixed, there is still a need to havea supply of print media and a print media drive mechanism integral tothe printer to ensure proper synchronisation between ink ejection andprint media transport. These requirements thus limit the minimum printersize possible.

Conventional photocopiers are a bulky, non-portable component. Modempersonal computers can perform the basic functions of a bulkyphotocopier if a computer has a scanner and a printer communicatingtherewith. Photocopiers suffer the same problems noted above. That is,they must store a supply of print media and provide the necessary mediatransfer componentry to guide the media past the printing mechanism ascopying occurs.

CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS

Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present inventionare disclosed in the following co-pending applications filed by theapplicant or assignee of the present invention simultaneously with thepresent application:

PCT/AU03/00154 PCT/AU03/00151 PCT/AU03/00150 PCT/AU03/00145PCT/AU03/00153 PCT/AU03/00152 PCT/AU03/00168 PCT/AU03/00169PCT/AU03/00170 PCT/AU03/00162 PCT/AU03/00146 PCT/AU03/00159PCT/AU03/00171 PCT/AU03/00149 PCT/AU03/00167 PCT/AU03/00158PCT/AU03/00147 PCT/AU03/00166 PCT/AU03/00164 PCT/AU03/00163PCT/AU03/00165 PCT/AU03/00160 PCT/AU03/00157 PCT/AU03/00148PCT/AU03/00156 PCT/AU03/00155

The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated hereinby cross-reference.

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS 6566858 6331946 6246970 6442525PCT/AU01/00141 09/505951 PCT/AU01/00139 6816968 6757832 PCT/AU01/00140PCT/AU00/00741 6238044 PCT/AU00/00742 6425661 6227652 6213588 62135896231163 6247795 6394581 6244691 6257704 6416168 6220694 6257705 62477946234610 6247793 6264306 6241342 6247792 6264307 6254220 6234611 63025286283582 6239821 6338547 6247796 6557977 6390603 6362843 6293653 63121076227653 6234609 6238040 6188415 6227654 6209989 6247791 6336710 62171536416167 6243113 6283581 6247790 6260953 6267469 6273544 6309048 64201966443558 6439689 6378989 6848181 6634735 PCT/AU98/00550 PCT/AU00/000956390605 6322195 6612110 6480089 6460778 6305788 PCT/AU00/00172 6426014PCT/AU00/00338 6364453 PCT/AU00/00339 6457795 PCT/AU00/00581 6315399PCT/AU00/00580 6338548 PCT/AU00/00582 6540319 PCT/AU00/00587 6328431PCT/AU00/00588 6328425 PCT/AU00/00589 6991320 PCT/AU00/00341 6595624PCT/AU00/00340 PCT/AU00/00749 6417757 PCT/AU01/01332 7095309PCT/AU01/01318 6854825 PCT/AU00/00750 7075677 PCT/AU00/00751 6428139PCT/AU00/00752 6575549 PCT/AU01/00502 PCT/AU00/00583 6383833PCT/AU02/01120 PCT/AU00/00593 6464332 PCT/AU00/00333 PCT/AU00/015136428142 PCT/AU00/00590 6390591 PCT/AU00/00591 7018016 PCT/AU00/005926328417 PCT/AU00/00584 6322194 PCT/AU00/00585 6382779 PCT/AU00/005866629745 PCT/AU00/01514 6565193 PCT/AU00/01515 6609786 PCT/AU00/015166609787 PCT/AU00/01517 6439908 PCT/AU00/01512 6684503 PCT/AU00/007536755513 PCT/AU00/00594 6409323 PCT/AU00/00595 6281912 PCT/AU00/005966604810 PCT/AU00/00597 6318920 PCT/AU00/00598 6488422 PCT/AU01/013216655786 PCT/AU01/01322 6457810 PCT/AU01/01323 6485135 PCT/AU00/005166795215 PCT/AU00/00517 7154638 PCT/AU00/00511 6859289 PCT/AU00/007546977751 PCT/AU00/00755 6398332 PCT/AU00/00756 6394573 PCT/AU00/007576622923

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is discloseda combined printer-scanner adapted to be movable by a user relative to asurface and being operable in a scanning mode and a printing mode, theprinter-scanner comprising:

a speed sensor adapted to measure the speed at which the printer-scanneris moved relative to the surface by the user;

a scanning device synchronised with the speed sensor and being adapted,when the printer-scanner is in scanning mode, to capture image datarepresentative of an image disposed on the surface as theprinter-scanner is moved relative to the surface by the user;

a memory adapted to store the image data;

a printhead arrangement synchronised with the speed sensor and beingadapted, when the printer-scanner is in printing mode, to effectprinting of the image data onto a print media as the printer-scanner ismoved relative to the print media by the user; and

a housing adapted to house the speed sensor, the scanning device, thememory and the printhead arrangement Preferably, the printheadarrangement comprises a plurality of ink ejection nozzles.

Preferably, the printer-scanner further comprises a print controlleradapted to:

-   -   (a) convert the image data stored in the memory into a plurality        of drop ejection control signals;    -   (b) receive speed data from the speed sensor, the speed data        being indicative of the speed at which the printer-scanner is        moved relative to the print media by the user, and    -   (c) operate the ink ejection nozzles in the printhead        arrangement in accordance with the drop ejection control signals        at a rate determined using the speed data, to thereby effect        printing of the image data onto the print media.

Preferably, the speed sensor comprises an optical encoder wheel adaptedto operate in contact with the surface and to rotate as theprinter-scanner traverses the surface. More preferably, the opticalencoder wheel comprises:

a series of circumferentially spaced markings; and

an optical sensor for detecting the markings as the markings pass theoptical sensor during rotation of the optical encoder wheel.

Preferably, the printer-scanner further comprises a power supply housedwithin the housing, the power supply comprising a cartridge in whichthere is disposed a battery and an ink supply, the cartridge beingremovable from the housing to allow removal and replacement of thebattery and the ink supply substantially simultaneously.

Preferably, the printer-scanner further comprises:

a capping arrangement moveable between a capped position in which thecapping arrangement substantially obstructs the ejection of ink from theink ejection nozzles and an un-capped position in which the cappingarrangement does not substantially obstruct the ejection of ink from theink ejection nozzles; and

a capping actuator disposed on the printer-scanner so as to be operableby a user as the user moves the printhead arrangement relative to theprint media.

Preferably, the printer-scanner further comprises a biasing memberadapted to bias the capping arrangement towards the capped position.

Preferably, the capping arrangement comprises a mounting portionpivotally mounted on the printer and a capping arm extendingsubstantially perpendicularly from the mounting portion to a distal end,the distal end lying adjacent the ink ejection nozzles to substantiallyobstruct ink ejection from the ink ejection nozzles when the cappingarrangement is mounted on the printer-scanner and is in the cappedposition.

Preferably, the printer-scanner further comprises a finger pad formed onthe mounting portion of the capping arrangement.

Preferably, the memory is further adapted to store printable informationand the printhead arrangement is adapted to effect printing of theprintable information onto the print media as the printer-scanner ismoved relative to the print media by the user.

Preferably, the printable information is received from a source externalto the printer-scanner via a communications receiver. More preferably,the communications receiver is an infra-red receiver, theprinter-scanner further comprising an infra-red window through whichinfra-red signals may pass to the infra-red receiver.

Preferably, the printer-scanner further comprises an ink supply adaptedto store ink and to supply the ink to the printhead arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by wayof example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer-scanner shown in use to scanan image from a page;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer-scanner of FIG. 1 in use ina printing operation;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the printer-scanner of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective end view of the printer-scanner, and

FIG. 5 is an inverted perspective view of the printer-scanner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the figures, a preferred embodiment of the printer-scannerof the present invention is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1. In thisfigure, the printer-scanner 10, under guidance of a user, traverses apage 20 in the direction of the arrow 21 to scan an image 22 from thepage 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printer-scanner 10 also can be guided by a userto traverse a page 20A in the direction of arrow 21 to print an image22A on the page 20A. This printed image can be a reproduction of image22 or could be any other image depending upon the way in which theprinter-scanner is used.

An exploded view of the printer-scanner 10 is shown in FIG. 3. Theprinter-scanner 10 includes a lower moulding 11, an upper moulding 12and a removable end cap 13 each of which may be formed of any suitableplastics, metal or similar material.

The upper and lower mouldings each include media slides 14 formed ateach end of the mouldings on the bottom surface thereof. The slides 14protrude from the bottom surface of the mouldings and serve to elevatethe printer-scanner as the printer-scanner traverses the print media.This results in minimal friction between the printhead and print mediaand prevents contact between the printer-scanner and freshly printed inkwhich could otherwise disturb the printed image.

When joined, the upper and lower mouldings reveal an ink ejection slot15 (FIG. 5) through which ink is ejected during printing. A cappingdevice 50, preferably of metal is received in a recess 17 formed in theupper moulding 12. The capping device 50, pivots about a pivot pointfrom a capped position in which a capping arm 52 of the capping device50 blocks the ink ejection slot 15 to an uncapped position wherein inkejection is unrestricted. Operation of the capping device 50 occursusing a finger pad 55 formed integrally with the capper.

Internally, the printer-scanner 10 includes a printhead module 30 inwhich is disposed a plurality of ink distribution channels leading to anarray of ink ejection nozzles 31 which are aligned with the ink ejectionslot 15 formed between the upper and lower mouldings 12, 11. An inksupply cartridge 32 stores inks, preferably in four colors namely cyan,magenta, yellow and black, to provide for full color printing.Alternatively, or in addition, infra-red ink may be provided. The inkcartridge 32 supplies ink to the ink distribution channels of theprinthead module 30 through an ink connector 33.

Any one of a number of known printhead modules and ink supply systemsmay be suitable for use with the present invention and thus furtherdescription of such features is omitted here. Details of printheadmodules and ink supply systems suitable for use with the invention canbe found in the co-pending applications listed at the start of thisspecification.

A scanner head 61 is incorporated into the lower molding 11 and receivespower and transmits signal data via the flexible printed circuit board34. The scanner head 61 can be any conventional or new scanner headsuitable for portable hand-held scanning.

A print controller 36 (not shown) includes a microprocessor thatconverts image data stored in a printer-scanner memory into a sequenceof electrical “drop ejection” signals. The signals are communicated tothe printhead module 30 in a known manner during a print operation tocause selective ejection of ink from the ink ejection nozzles 31.

The printer-scanner memory would typically receive image data via theflexible printed circuit board 34 from the scanner head 61.

The print controller 36 can also communicate with external devices toreceive print instructions, in particular digital image data. In theembodiment shown, digital image data may be provided to the printcontroller 36 as an infra-red (IR) signal through an IR receiver window37 formed in one end panel of the printer-scanner 10. The IR receiver 37which is electrically connected to the print controller microprocessor36 receives the data which is then stored in the memory. In alternativeembodiments (not shown), the print controller microprocessor maycommunicate through any other suitable connection for example, hard wireconnections to other electronic devices (such as computers, scanners,copiers, digital cameras and the like), wireless telecommunications(such as WAP and the like) or through a plug and socket connection ordata port. Other information, for example print control instructions,may also be provided to the printer-scanner from external devices usingthe above systems. In a further embodiment, the print controllermicroprocessor may have its own graphics generating capabilities.

The upper and lower mouldings provide a recess in which to receivebatteries 42, for example two 1.5 V “AAA” batteries. A flexible printedcircuit board (PCB) 34 has busbars (not shown) thereon that convey powerfrom the batteries 42 to the printhead module 30, the print controllermicroprocessor 36 and any other powered components.

A power switch 43 formed in an end panel of the printer-scanner 10 isoperated by a user to actuate the printer-scanner between powered andunpowered modes.

The batteries 42 are removable from the printer-scanner 10 through anaperture 46 formed between the upper and lower mouldings. The inkcartridge may be removed and replaced through a similar aperture 47. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the end cap 13 is first removed from theprinter-scanner 10 to reveal the apertures 46, 47 after which thebatteries and/or ink cartridge may be replaced. In a further embodimentnot illustrated here, the batteries and ink cartridge may be provided asan integral unit within a removable housing with only one aperture beingformed in the end of the printer-scanner 10 to receive the housing.

A plurality of status indicating light emitting diodes (LEDs) 49 a, 49b, 49 c (FIG. 4) are electrically connected to the microprocessor andare disposed in an outer surface of the printer-scanner 10. The separateLEDs can be used for indicating error conditions such as low battery,low ink or general printer-scanner operation error conditions as well asa general printer-scanner ON/OFF condition.

To form the scanning operation, a user first switches the device onusing the power switch 43. A “scan” button can then be depressed or thedevice manipulated in some other way so as to switch it into a scanningmode. It can then be drawn over an image as shown in FIG. 1 such thatthe scanning head 61 scans the pre-printed image 22 for storage in anon-board memory chip or the like.

To perform printing, a user first actuates the capping device 50, in amanner described below, to expose the printhead chip 31 (FIG. 5) to theprint media. The print media may be any suitable textile for receivingthe type of ink stored in the printer-scanner and may include inter aliapaper, cardboard, wood, fabric and plastics. The printer-scanner 10 mayinclude further control buttons depressed by the user to initiateprinting, i.e. to commence the ejection of ink from the printhead underthe control of the print control microprocessor. Alternatively,actuation of the capper 16 may be detected as a signal that the user isready for the printing to commence. The user then traverses the printmedia 20 with the printer-scanner 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

To control the printing rate, the printer-scanner 10 includes an opticalencoder wheel 39 (FIG. 3) attached to the printhead module 30 at one endthereof. The optical encoder wheel 39 is received in slots 41 a, 41 bformed in the upper and lower mouldings respectively and extends fromthe mouldings to the point where the rim of the wheel 39 is level withthe media slides 14 (see FIG. 5). Circumferentially spaced markings onthe optical encoder wheel 39 are read by an optical sensor as the wheel39 rotates.

The optical sensor includes a light source, eg. an LED, and aphoto-detector that produces an electrical response dependant on theamount of light incident upon the detector. The light reflectioncharacteristics of the encoder wheel 39 vary between the marked andun-marked areas and thus as the markings rotate past the detector, achange in the detector response occurs. The frequency at which thedetector responds provides a measurement of the speed at which theencoder wheel is rotating. The detector response is communicated to theprint control microprocessor 36 which uses the signal to calculate thespeed at which the printhead module is being moved across the printmedia. The print controller then synchronises the rate at which the dropejection control signals are passed to the ink ejection nozzles with themeasured speed at which the printer-scanner is moving. Theprinter-scanner 10 is therefore able to ensure appropriate print dotspacing of successive lines of print and thus create a faithfulreproduction of the printed image even though the printer-scanner doesnot control the speed at which the print media moves relative to theprinthead.

Furthermore, if the number of markings on the encoder wheel 39 is highenough, the microprocessor 36 is able to quickly adapt to the variationsin the speed at which a user may move the printer-scanner across theprint media thereby achieving a higher quality image.

In a similar way, the optical encoder wheel 39 may be functionallyassociated with the scanner head 61 if necessary to synchronise the rateof scanning with the rate at which the device is drawn over thepre-printed image.

An idler wheel 44 is attached to the opposite end of the printheadmodule 30 to allow stability and directional control of theprinter-scanner. A shaft may connect the idler wheel 44 with the encoderwheel 39 to synchronise the rotation speeds of each wheel and thereforemaintain a correct and straight-line tracking of the device over a page.

The optical encoder wheel 39 or idler wheel 44 may have a speed limitersuch as a friction clutch that prevents a user from moving theprinter-scanner along the print media at a rate faster than the maximumrate of operation of the printhead module 30. Furthermore, either orboth wheels may have a system such as a ratchet for preventing theprinter-scanner from being moved in reverse to the direction ofprinting.

Operation of the capping mechanism 50 is described in our co-pendingapplication having docket No. AP44 filed concurrently herewith andentitled “Printer with Capping Device”.

A contact sensor (not shown) may detect when the capper 50 is moved tothe uncapped position and communicate the state of the capper to theprint control microprocessor 36 so that printing is only attempted whenthe capper 50 is in the uncapped position.

The printer-scanner 10 of the present invention may include keys forcontrolling the microprocessor to perform such printer-scanneroperations as downloading image data from an external device, resettingan incomplete print operation so that the printer-scanner commencesprinting at the start of an image and the like. Alternatively, thesefunctions may be communicated to the printer-scanner through the IR dataport described previously.

1. A combined printer-scanner adapted to be moveable by a user relativeto a surface and being operable in a scanning mode and a printing mode,the printer-scanner comprising: a speed sensor adapted to measure thespeed at which the printer-scanner is moved relative to the surface bythe user; a scanning device synchronised with the speed sensor and beingadapted, when the printer-scanner is in scanning mode, to capture imagedata representative of an image disposed on the surface as theprinter-scanner is moved relative to the surface by the user; a memoryadapted to store the image data; a printhead arrangement synchronisedwith the speed sensor and being adapted, when the printer-scanner is inprinting mode, to effect printing of the image data onto a print mediaas the printer-scanner is moved relative to the print media by the user,the printhead arrangement comprise a plurality of ink ejection nozzles;a print controller adapted to: convert the image data stored in thememory into a plurality of drop ejection control signals; receive speeddata from the speed sensor, the speed data being indicative of the speedat which the printer-scanner is moved relative to the print media by theuser; and operate the ink ejection nozzles in the printhead arrangementin accordance with the drop ejection control signals at a ratedetermined using the speed data, to thereby effect printing of the imagedata onto the print media; and a housing adapted to house the speedsensor, the scanning device, the memory, the print controller and theprinthead arrangement; a capping arrangement moveable between capped anduncapped positions to thereby selectively cap the printhead, the cappingarrangement being movable between a capped position in which the cappingarrangement substantially obstructs the ejection of ink from the inkejection nozzle and an un-capped position in which the cappingarrangement dose not substantially obstruct the ejection of ink from theink ejection nozzles; and a capping actuator disposed on theprinter-scanner so as to be operable by a user as the user moves theprinthead arrangement relative to the print media; and a contact sensorto sense when the capping arrangement is moved to the un-cappedposition, wherein the contact sensor transfers a signal to the printcontroller so that printing occurs when the capping arrangement issensed to be in the un-capped position.
 2. The printer-scanner of claim1 wherein the printhead arrangement comprises a plurality of inkejection nozzles.
 3. The printer-scanner of claim 1 wherein the speedsensor comprises an optical encoder wheel adapted to operate in contactwith the surface and to rotate as the printer-scanner traverses thesurface.
 4. The printer-scanner of claim 3 wherein the optical encoderwheel comprises: a series of circumferentially spaced markings; and anoptical sensor for detecting the markings as the markings pass theoptical sensor during rotation of the optical encoder wheel.
 5. Theprinter-scanner of claim 1 further comprises a power supply housedwithin the housing, the power supply comprising a cartridge in whichthere is disposed a battery and an ink supply, the cartridge beingremovable from the housing to allow removal and replacement of thebattery and the ink supply substantially simultaneously.
 6. Theprinter-scanner of claim 1 wherein the capping arrangement comprises amounting portion pivotally mounted on the printer and a capping armextending substantially perpendicularly from the mounting portion to adistal end, the distal end lying adjacent the ink ejection nozzles tosubstantially obstruct ink ejection from the ink ejection nozzles whenthe capping arrangement is mounted on the printer-scanner and is in thecapped position.
 7. The printer-scanner of claim 6 farther comprising afinger pad formed on the mounting portion of the capping arrangement. 8.The printer-scanner of claim 1 wherein the memory is further adapted tostore printable information and the printhead arrangement is adapted toeffect printing of the printable information onto the print media as theprinter-scanner is moved relative to the print media by the user.
 9. Theprinter-scanner of claim 8 wherein the printable information is receivedfrom a source external to the printer-scanner via a communicationsreceiver.
 10. The printer-scanner of claim 9 wherein the communicationsreceiver is an infra-red receiver, the printer-scanner furthercomprising an infra-red window through which infra-red signals may passto the infra-red receiver.
 11. The printer-scanner of claim 1 furthercomprising an ink supply adapted to store ink and to supply the ink tothe printhead arrangement.
 12. The printer-scanner of claim 1, whereinthe printer-scanner includes a ratchet arrangement to restrict reversemovement of the printer-scanner over the surface.